St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-04

M%AES - latter part of the
ESGSS ~ ESg$N present month. The
w 4 EhB3 Hotel ST. Louis is
& yESl% the only one of the
nbAGMNNjH%&S larger hotels that is
eNSSSEN&M' open for the accom-
~ &WlI@Zgn mediation of guests.
I w, x NS$WE the Lake Park hav-
"- ing closed Aug. %,
and the Lafayette the first part of last
week. a great many visitors from the
South and East, who have come to the
Northwest to see the Exposition, are at
present enjoying the lake at the Hotel
st. Louis. But few social events have
occurred at the lake during the
past week, though private yachting
parties, euchre parties and germans
have not been lacking. The weather
has been cold and dreary during the
past week, though unusually fine
weather may be looked for during the
remainder of this month. September
always has been the most pleasant
month of the year at Lake Minnetonka,
little OF no rain falling and the weather
being delightfully."- cool and comfort
able.
YACHTING ON LAKE AfINNEToNKA.
Nearly all the best sail boats at Lake
Minnetonka-Some forty or fifty in
number-are owned at either one or the
other of the two points, WayZata and
vicinity of Excelsior.
The MinnetOnka Yacht club, which is
the oldest on the lakes, comprises those
owned at WayZata and many others,
while the Excelsior club admits only
members who are located within the
boundaries of Excelsior. These points
being located some distance apart, and
the regular course of the Minnet0nka
club being nearer Wayzata, created a
desire on the part of Excelsior
yachtmen to organize club,
through which themselves and
their friends might obtain more
pleasure with greater convenience.
Early in July well attended meeting
was held at the ''Blue Line" and per
manent organization made. Thirty-five
members joined and officers were elected
for one year. The following is COM
plete list of the officers and members OF
the club.
Commodore-Carl Pickett.
Vice COMMUNICATIONS A. Camp.
Secretary and Treasurer-H. Mynderse.
Regatta Committee-H. j. Burton, L. B.
MembersIHaglow Gale, F; ~, E. ,t Fletcher,
s. Gates, Fred Hopkins, r. L. Gift
ford, T. A. sammis, Charles Gypherss,
IL.
S. Doolittle, F. L. Threther, j. C. Yawkey, II.
r. Vandusen, F. L. Bardwell, j. G. Mitchell,
Arthur Little, George A. Morse. G: A. Dole,
Harlow Gale, Jr., William LOOMS, Turner A.
Wait, F. G. Scudder and Mr. Hollis.
The boats belonging to the club are:
Sloops-Idlewild, Susie Belle, Volanta,
Mermaid, Peerless, Modesty, Wave and
Clean; cat-rigged boats-Elvira, Lizzie
Gill, Phyllis, Hesen, Tourist and
Emma. Of these boats several were
= rought from the East, and most of
t -em are of the very best build, the
Peerless being the pOSSessOr of numer-
Gus beautiful trophies. The Volante-
new this season, modelled by Burgess,
is firSt-claSS SloOp and bound to make
a good record. The Mermaid and Idle
wild are of local build, fine boats and
excellent sailors. Among the cat rigs
the Helen, Eastern build. and Phillis,
built at Washington, are flyers.
Seven regular and one special regatta,
and the annual review were held this
season. Numerous beautiful prizes
have been offered by members and
friends of the club, the most important
of which was the Thatcher-Cas3 cup,
which was the object of four hotly con-
tested races, and was finally captured
by the Mermaid. The next was the silver
water set, of four pieces, offered by
l.. B. StetSOn as special sweepstakes
prize, and taken by the Peerless. The
clubs regular course is the finest On the
lake, being triangular, over deep water,
and in full view of several public
places, which afford spectators an ex-
cellent chance to view the races. The
annual review and illumination, held on
the evening of August %, was very
novel and Interesting affair. Through
the organization of the Excelsior Yacht
ing club during the past season great
interest has been created in yachting
affairs, and the club feels justly proud
of the success which it has met upon
this, its initial year. 1t feels confident
that this interest will rapidly increase
until Minnetonka stands, as it surely
will, at the head of all lakes as the most |
attractive place for yachting.
The MinnetOnka Yacht club is the !
oldest of the two clubs, and has longer |
race course, though less frequent races,
than the Excelsior Y achting club. Dur |
ing June the race for the championship |
of 1886 occurred, the Mary Lee winning |
the sloop race and the Ida the cat race. |
On July the second regatta took |
place, the Eleanor of the SloOps coming |
in first, and the Ida of the cats again |
winning the first prize, an American |
silk flag.
The only cruise of the season occurred
Aug. II, and it was participated in by |
twenty-three boats. Starting from |
Ororio point the clubs sailed to Chap |
mans in the upper lake, where dinner |
was served. Mary Lee sailed the fast |
est in the cruise, and received first |
prize. The Pearl won the regatta of |
Aug. "a. closely followed by the Mary |
Lee. The Ida, as usual, won the flag in |
the race of the cat-rigged boats.
THE HERMITAGE.
The favorite spot at the lake for visit |
ors is the Hermitage, beautifully stu
ated at the south end of the upper lake.
Few days pass but that large number |
of tourists are seen, interviewing the |
hermit or promenading on the porches of |
his Sequestered cottage. Curiosity seems |
to be the principal incentive for the |
frequent visits to this romantic spot |
The story connected with this locality,
and giving it its peculiar attractiveness
for those easily directed by curiosity, is
indeed an interesting and romantic one,
and. unlike most romantic stories, is
perfectly true, being corroborated by
the hermit, Mai. Halstead, himself.
Those who have lived in the vicinity of
Lake Minnetonka for twenty years or
more remember that Maj. Halstead's
brother drowned himself in front of the
Hermitage. The story goes that lady,
residing in the East and engaged to
marry the majors brother, had married
another man on the same hour and day on
which she was to have married Mr.. Hal
stead. The act SO weighed on the latter'S
mind that he tied twenty-five pound
L., Il